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156:3 Of a black cat, says the Clavicle, and the weapon when finished should be wrapped
in a cloth of black silk, which, however, contradicts Book ii. c. 20, of the same work.
159:1 White boxwood is prescribed by the Key of Solomon.
160:1 The first or the fifteenth hour is the reading of the Key, but there is more reason in
the longer period, having regard to the nature of the operation.
160:2 i.e., Elohim Gibor. The Key of Solomon prescribes other Divine Names for the
Sword of the Master.
160:3 These instructions are terribly confused. Compare the English version of the Key of
Solomon, wherein the passage is thus amended:--"The first sword should have on the
pommel the name Cardiel or Gabriel; on the Lamen of the Guard, Region; on the Blade,
Panoraim Heamesin. The second should have on the pommel the name Auriel; on the
Lamen of the p. 161 Guard, Sarion; on the Blade, Gamorin Debalin. The third sword
should have on the pommel the name Damiel or Raphael; on the Lamen of the Guard,
Yemeton; on the Blade, Lamedin Eradim."
§ 3. Concerning the Rod and Staff of the Art
The great mystery of practical magic is supposed to be centred in the Magic Rod, and
Éliphas Lévi, who claims to have reconstructed the primitive ceremonial, but seems
rather to have over-edited his materials, supplies a highly sensational account of its
powers and an elaborate method of its preparation. For him it is the sign of the
transmission of the magical priesthood, which has never ceased since the darksome origin
of pseudo-transcendent science. The operator is overwhelmed with precautions
concerning the secrecy which must be maintained in regard to it and might well be
dejected by the difficulties of its consecration. In view of such imputed importance, it is
curious that De Abano and pseudo-Agrippa omit all mention of this tremendous
instrument, while the Key of Solomon dismisses it in a few lines of easy instruction. It
would appear, however, that a staff and rod are both necessary, especially in Goëtic
operations, though their distinctive provinces are in no
p. 162
case described. According to the Book of True Black Magic, the staff should be of cane
and the wand or rod of hazel, both virgin-that is, having no branches or offshoots. 1 They
must be cut and trimmed on the day and in the hour of the Sun, while the following
characters must be inscribed upon the staff, but on the day and in the hour of Mercury: 2-
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